Pet Dental Care

Imagine how your mouth and teeth would fare if you couldn’t use a toothbrush. That’s the predicament faced by our pets, and it is why we do a through dental screening each time your pet visits our clinic and talk to you about preventive dental care.

Among the signs that your pet has a tooth problem are difficulty eating, dropping food, drooling, bleeding gums, bad breath and tooth discoloration.

Dental problems can lead to more serious infections

Not only do teeth and gum problems cause pain, they can also lead to serious health problems, as infections in the gum and mouth enter the bloodstream and spread to other major organs like the heart and kidneys.

By the time your pet is three, they typically will show signs of periodontal disease. There are ways to avoid problems, such as brushing your pet’s teeth regularly using a toothpaste specially formulated for animals (human toothpaste will do more damage than good) and a soft brush (we recommend a brush designed for pets). Some chew toys and treats also can help to naturally prevent the build-up of tartar and plaque.

Even with good care, your pet may need to have their teeth cleaned by our veterinarians. During these cleanings, animals are placed under general anesthesia, which allows us to do a thorough job of descaling and polishing teeth as well as examining the mouth for other problems, such as broken, chipped or missing teeth, abscesses and even cancerous spots or lesions. It is a safe procedure and we monitor your pet’s heart rate and rhythm, temperature, respiration rate and oxygen saturation throughout the procedure.